Ditching-machine.



J. W. HUM'PHREYS. .DITSHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21. 1908.

Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

, of rig. i.

PTENT a JAMES W. HUllIlPIIREYS,v 0F ALVA, OKLAHOMA.

. DITCHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2st, 1969,

serial No. 463,848.

Appiieation sied November 21, isos.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. HUM- rirnnrs, a .citizen ot the United States, residing atAlva, in the county of `Woods and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovments in Ditching-v Machinesyvof which the following is a specitication.

This invention relates to ditching machines of that class having an endless line or belt ot scoops carried on a trame which is held iii position and which can be raised or lowered to any depth desired. Such machines are shown in my U. S. Patents NOS.. 607,688; 516,682; 436,241 and 355,701.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved chain by 1which the scoops are carried, the links of the chain being so constructed that the scoops can be readily attached or detached.

A further object is to provide an improved wheel for carrying the chains to which the scoops are attached, the wheel havin@ removable parts which can be replace when they become. worn, and also having guides which prevent the chains troni slipping oli the wheels.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cleaner, to detach the earth from the scoops at. the upper end of the run.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which* Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View v.showing one end or part ot the traveling excavating devices and the supporting frame. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the belt wheels. Fig. Lt is an edge view of the same. Figs. 5 and (3 are plan and edge views of one of the links. i*

The scoops or cutters 6 are carried by a pair. ot chain belts formed ot links 7, the scoops being slightly tapered toward the rear, and open at both ends. The belts passv around wheels 8 mounted upon a shatt- 9 which will be carried by the traine work ot the machine anddrivcn by suitable gearing one wheel, 10, of which is shown, fast on the shaft. There will be shafts and wheels at opposite ends of the belts, and said shafts will be spaced apart by beams 11, in a well known manner.

Each link 7 of the chain comprises a main bar toi'ked at one end as indicated at 12 and having' holes 1S and 111 to receive the pivot bolts by which the links are connectedA is a longitudinal rib 16 to which the ends of the scoops are attached as by bolts 17 through holes 18 at the ends ot said rib. Each scoop will be-fornied of a piece of sheet steel or other metal bentr so that its ends will tit against the outer sides of the ribs 16, tor attachment thereto, and will lie within the plane ot the outer side of the link.

Each wheel 8 consists of a hub and a web,7 the periphery of the wheel being hexagonal or non-circular in shape, in order to drive the belt, and necessarily each link is of proper length to fit the corresponding part of the wheel rim. At each corner the wheel isprovided with a detachable corner piece 2O hav- .ing a shank .21 which is bolted to the web as `.-iidieated at 22. These corner pieces are setin suitable recesses made to receive the same at the corners ot the wheel. The'wheel is also provided with projecting guard fingers 23 attached to the web et the wheel by bolts 24, and located adjacent to each corner piece. These fingers project on the outer side of the wheel and serve to retain the chains in position on the wheels. This manner of con- 21, and locatedadjacent to each corner piece. and the guard lingers to be renewed when they become worn out, without dismantling the supporting frame work and removing the shaft. New scoops can also be attached at any time, without separating the links of the belts.

ln order to dislodge dirt from the scoops when they reach the inner end of the run, I provide a cleaner consisting ot a scraper or blade 30 fastened at its opposite ends by bolts 31 to arms 32 attached by bolts 33 to the under side of the beams 11. By passing the bolts through slots in the arms the latter can be adjusted, and the blade may be adjusted in the same manner, to properly locate the scraper with ti'espect to the scoops, so that the latter will pass the saine. As the endless excavator is operated, the scraper will dislodge the dirt Oi material Jfrom the scoops, thereby clearing the same out at the rear ends ot' the scoops. This will be found very useful in dealing with sticky material.

l claim:

1. A chain tor the belt of a ditching machine, comprising a succession ot links pivoted together, each link having a rib along one edge for a portion of its length only, for attachment of a scoop or the like, whereby thescoops attached to successive links will be paced apart. e

v 2li wheel for the link belt of a ditching machine, having a non-circular web with recesses at the corners theref, and pieces fitting in said recesses, each having a shank bolted to the side of the web, and head portions extending o positely and at an angle from each other rom the outer end of said shank. o

3. In, a ditching machine, the combina- ,Y tion with endless belts with scoops therebetween, and a frame provided with a shaftand wheels mver which the belts travel, of a --craper supported on the frame between said belts, in position tp dislodge material from the scoops. f

4. In a ditching machine, the combinationwith a pair of beams, a shaft extending across the ends thereof and provided with Wheels on the outer sides of the beams, belts which pass around th'e Wheels, scoops extending across between the belts, and a scraper supported on the ends of said beams, in position to dislodge material fromV the scoops.

In testimony whereof, I aHiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES W. HUMPHREYS.

Witnesses:

t WV. G. SHARE, S. B. SHARE. 

